Animal drinker

ABSTRACT

An animal watering drinker has a tank having end walls with drinking well pockets. A top wall unit mounted on the tank has a continuous baffle surrounding a float valve assembly and bosses closing the backs of the pockets. Lids pivotally mounted on the top wall unit normally close the tops of the drinking well pockets.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application .Iadd.is a reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,730 grantedOct. 16, 1990. U.S. Pat. No. 4,962,730 .Iaddend.is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 394,853 filed Aug. 17,1989.Iadd., now U.S. Pat. No. Des. 322,869.Iaddend..

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention pertains to water drinkers for providing an outdoor sourceof drinking water for animals. The water drinkers have insulated tanksand tops with movable lids to prevent freezing of water within the tanksin cold environmental conditions.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Stock drinkers have been constructed with tanks insulated with foam orother insulated materials for keeping the water from freezing during thewinter months and cool during the summer months. Examples of aminaldrinkers having foam plastic insulated walls are shown by Martin in U.S.Pat. No. 3,745,977; Kapplinger in U.S. Pat. No. 4,100,885; and Schaferet al in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,343,264 and 4,395,974. These animal drinkershave inner and outer plastic walls reinforced with glass fibers. Thewalls are separately made and secured together. Foam plastic is theninjected into the space between the inner and outer walls. Thismanufacturing procedure is labor intensive and expensive.

Tank-type watering devices have drinking wells closed with a movablecovers or lids. The animal raises a lid to provide access to the waterin the drinking well. Float valve assemblies are used to automaticallymaintain the level of the water in the tank. The float valve assembliesare isolated from the drinking wells with baffles that extend downwardlyfrom the inside of the top wall of the watering devices into the watertherein. The baffles extend transversely between the side walls of thetank. The baffles act as guides for directing convection circulation ofwater in the tank.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The invention is directed to an animal watering apparatus or drinker foranimals such as hogs, cattle, sheep, horses and the like. The drinkerhas a tank having heat insulated walls of plastic foam insulationsandwiched between seamless plastic shells made by a rotational moldingprocess. The tank has an end wall with a drinking well pocket open tothe chamber of the tank and the top of the end wall. A top wall unithaving heat insulated walls of foam plastic insulation sandwichedbetween seamless plastic shells closes the top of the chamber of thetank. The top wall unit is made by a rotational mold process. The topwall unit has downwardly directed continuous baffle extend into thechamber and spaced inwardly from the upright walls of the tank and abovethe bottom wall so that water is located between the baffle and theupright wall means of the tank. The baffle has a bottom edge locatedbelow the normal level of the water in the chamber and a boss extendedinto the drinking well pocket. The boss closes the back of the pocketand prevents air from flowing into the chamber. A float valve assemblyis located within the chamber below the top wall unit. The float valveassembly is connected to a water supply pipe extended upwardly through atube connected to the bottom wall of the tank. The float valve assemblyoperates to maintain a selected level of water in the chamber anddrinking well pocket. A lid pivotally mounted on the top wall unitnormally closes the top of the drinking well pocket. An animal moves thelid to an open position to provide access to the water in the drinkingwell pocket. The lid will return to its closed position when the animalmoves away from the drinking well pocket. The insulation of the tank andtop wall unit and the normal circulation of the water within the chamberand drinking well pocket prevents the freezing of the water in the coldweather environments without the use of an outside energy such asheaters.

A preferred embodiment of the drinker has a tank with generally uprightside walls joined to a horizontal bottom wall and upright end wallssurrounding a chamber for accommodating water. The end walls havedrinking well pockets open to the chamber and the top of the end walls.Each end wall has first and second inside walls laterally spaced fromeach other on opposite sides of the drinking well pocket. The tank hasseamless inner and outer plastic shells made by rotational moldingprocess. The space between the shells is filled with heat or temperatureinsulation material, such as urethane or like foam plastic to insulatethe tank. A top wall unit is mounted on the side walls and the end wallsto cover the chamber. The top wall unit has a downwardly directedcontinuous baffle containing insulation material that extends into thechamber and is spaced inwardly from the upright side walls and above thebottom wall so that water is located between the baffle and the uprightside walls and in the pockets. The baffle has a bottom edge that islocated below the normal level of the water in the chamber. Bosses onthe top wall unit extend into the drinking well pockets to provide theback walls for the drinking well pockets. The bosses have uprightsurfaces located in surface engagement with the first and second insidewalls of the end walls to block the flow of air from the pockets intothe chamber. The top unit has an enclosed space accommodating a floatvalve assembly operable to maintain a level of water in the chamber andpockets. The float valve assembly is mounted on an upright pipe extendedthrough a tube connected to the bottom wall of the tank. A plurality offasteners releasably connect the top wall unit to the tank. Lids extendover the top of the end walls to close the top of the drinking wellpockets. Hinges pivotally connect the lids to the top wall unit so thatan animal can lift the lid and drink water from the drinking wellpockets. When the animal leaves the drinker the lids will automaticallyreturn to their closed positions over the top of the drinking wellpockets.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the animal drinker of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the animal drinker of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an end elevational view of the left end of the animal drinkerof FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a top view of the tank of the animal drinker of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the cover and lids of the animal drinker ofFIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the tank, cover and lids ofthe animal drinker of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawing, there is shown an animal watering apparatus ordrinker indicated generally at 10 used to provide fresh water foranimals, such as cattle, hogs, sheep, horses and the like in an outdoorenvironment under cold weather conditions. Animal drinker 10 has agenerally rectangular open top tank indicated generally at 11 having aninternal chamber 12 for accommodating a supply of water 13. The top oftank 11 is closed with a top unit indicated generally at 14. Top unit 14supports lids 16 and 17 that normally close drinking well pockets 18 and19 in opposite ends of tank 11. The animals lift lids 16 and 17 toprovide access to the water in drinking well pockets 18 and 19.

Drinker 10 is supported on a concrete slab 21 or floor in the feed lot.An underground water pipe 22 extends upwardly through slab 21 and thebottom of tank 11 into chamber 12. An upright tube 23 has a lower endthreaded into a threaded hole 24 in the bottom of tank 11. Water pipe 22extends upwardly through tube 23. The upper end of pipe 22 is connectedto a float valve assembly 26 located under top unit 14 for controllingthe supply of water to chamber 12 and drinking well pockets 18 and 19.Float valve assembly 26 has an arm 27 connected at its outer end to afloat 28 which rests on the surface of water 13. As the level of water13 drops below a preselected level, float 28 moves downwardly with arm27 to open valve 26 so that water is discharged into chamber 12. As thewater level rises float 28 moves upwardly to close valve 26 and therebyregulate the level of water 13 in chamber 12 below float valve assembly26. Float valve assembly 26 can be any of the usual float valves used intanks to control the level of water in the tanks. Examples of floatvalves are shown by Barker et al in U.S. Pat. No. 3,835,882 and Schaferet al in U.S. Pat. No. 4,395,974.

Tank 11 has generally upright side walls 29 and 31 joined to ahorizontal bottom wall 32. Upright end walls 33 and 34 complete thetank. The lower portions of end walls 33 and 34 have outwardly directedflanges 36 and 37 provided with side notches 38 and 39 for accommodatingfasteners for securing the drinker to slab 21. The walls of tank 11 havean outer shell 41 and an inner shell 42. The space between the inner andouter shells 41 and 42 is filled with a temperature insulation core 43,such as foam plastic including but not limited to urethane, polystyrenefoam and the like. The inner and outer shells 41 and 42 and flanges 36and 37 are a one piece seamless unit made by a rotational moldingprocess. The insulation core 43 is introduced into the space betweenshells 41 and 42 after the molding process has been completed. The coreplastic material, such as urethane foam, reacts within the space to fillthe entire space with foamed plastic. The seamless double wallconstruction of the tank prevents water leakage and provides strengthand durability to the entire tank.

As shown in FIG. 8, end wall 34 has an upright inside walls 44, 46, and47 forming drinking well pocket 18. Walls 44, 46, and 47 have an uppergenerally U-shaped lip 48 that extends upwardly and inwardly adjacentthe upper front and sides of drinking well pocket 18. The opposite end33 of tank 11 has inside walls 49, 51 and 52 forming drinking wellpocket 19. The upper portions of walls 49, 50 and 52 have a U-shaped lip53 that extends upwardly and inwardly toward top unit 14.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, side wall 29 has a upper inwardly directedshoulder 54 supporting a seal 56. An upwardly directed rib 57 is locatedoutwardly of shoulder 54. Shoulder 54 and rib 57 have oppositetransverse ends that extend to lips 48 and 53. Side wall 31 has aninwardly directed shoulder 58 supporting a seal 58. An upwardly directedrib 61 located outwardly of shoulder 58. Opposite transverse ends ofshoulder 58 and rib 61 are joined to ends of lips 48 and 53.

Top unit 14 has a top wall 62 closing the top of tank 11. Top wall 62has a downwardly directed generally rectangular baffle indicatedgenerally at 63, surrounding an enclosed space 76 for accommodatingfloat valve assembly 26. Baffle 63 has generally parallel side bafflewalls or members 64 and 66, as shown in FIG. 5, spaced inwardly from theinside shell 42 of tank 11. The spaces 67 and 68 between baffle members64 and 66 and the inner surfaces of side walls 29 and 31 of tank 11accommodate air and water which provides additional insulation for thewater below space 76 and float valve assembly 26. Small holes 75 inbaffle 63 located above the high or full water level allow air to flowinto and out of space 76.

Referring to FIG. 4, baffle 63 has end baffle members 69 and 72 thatextend across the back of drinking well pockets 18 and 19. End bafflemember 69 has a generally rectangular boss 71 that extends into drinkingwell pocket 19. As seen in FIG. 7, boss 71 extends into drinking wellpocket 19 forming the back wall of drinking well pocket 19. Oppositesides of boss 71 are located in engagement with inside walls 49 and 52to prevent air from flowing into spaces 67 and 68 adjacent side walls 64and 66 of baffle 63 and thereby maintain the temperature insulatingcharacteristics of the air and water in spaces 67 and 68. As seen inFIG. 9, end baffle member 72 has an outwardly directed boss 73. Boss 73extends into drinking well pocket 18 to close the rear of drinking wellpocket 18 and providing a back wall for the pocket. The opposite sidesof boss 73 engage the inside walls 44 and 47 to prevent air from flowinginto spaces 67 and 68 to maintain the insulation features of the air andwater in spaces 67 and 68. Bosses 71 and 73 also position top unit 14 ontank 11. Top unit 14 is keyed onto tank 11 with bosses 71 and 73.

Baffle 63 has a continuous generally rectangular lower edge 74 locatedabove bottom wall 32 so that water can circulate under baffle 63 fromchamber 12 into drinking well pockets 18 and 19. Top unit 14 has a firstinside section 77 that rests on seal 56 and a second inside section 78that rests on seal 59. Outwardly directed side edges 79 and 81 joined tosections 77 and 78 respectively rest on the tops of rid 57 and 61 ofside walls 29 and 31. A plurality of bolts 83 extended through holes 82secure top unit 14 to tank 11. Bolts 83 hold the inside sections 77 and78 in a tight sealing relation with seals 56 and 59 to minimize the lossof heat from the water in chamber 12 and the entrance of cold outsideair into the interior of the drinker.

Top unit 14 is a seamless one piece structure having an outside shell 84and an inside shell 86. A temperature or heat insulation core 87, suchas urethane or polystyrene foam and the like, is located between shells84 and 86. Shells 84 and 86 are rotationally molded as a one piece unit.The temperature insulation core 87, such as urethane foam, is injectedinto the space between shells 84 and 86 to complete top unit 14. Theentire space between shells 84 and 86 is filled with the foam plastic ofinsulation core 87.

Referring to FIG. 2, top unit 14 has a generally rectangular firstextension 88 located between inwardly directed ears 89 and 91 of lid 16.A transverse pivot rod 92 pivotally connects ears 89 and 91 to extension88 so that lid 16 can be moved upwardly to open the top of drinking wellpocket 18. The upper edge of lid 16 engages the top of extension 88 whenlid 16 is open to prevent lid 16 from falling back unto top wall 62. Theouter edge of lid 16 projects outwardly from end wall 34 and supports agenerally U-shaped member 93, such as a metal channel, to protect lid 16from the animals. A plurality of fasteners 94, such as rivets, bolts andthe like, secure member 93 to lid 16. As seen in FIG. 4, lid 16 has anenlarged downwardly directed bottom section 96 which containstemperature insulation material that fits into the top of drinking wellpocket 18 to reduce heat loss of the water in the drinking well pockets.

Top unit 14, as seen in FIG. 2, has a second outwardly directedextension 97 opposite extension 88 located between ears 98 and 99 of lid17. A transverse pivot rod 101 pivotally connects lid 17 to extension97. The upper edge of lid 17 engages the top of extension 97 when lid 17is open to prevent lid 17 from falling back unto top wall 62. The outerlower edge of lid 17 has a transverse U-shaped member 102, such as ametal channel, located about the end of lid 17 which projects outwardlyfrom end wall 33. A plurality of fasteners 103 secure member 102 to lid17. As seen in FIG. 4, lid 17 has a downwardly directed enlarged bottomsection 104 that extends into the top of drinking well pocket 19 toreduce the heat loss of the water from drinking well pocket 19.

Water is drained from chamber 12 through drain holes 106 and 107 in thebottom of side wall 29 shown in broken lines in FIG. 8. Returning toFIG. 1, removeable plugs 108 and 109 fit into holes 106 and 107 toretain water in chamber 12.

Tank 11 and top unit 14 are separate seamless one-piece units that aremade by a rotational mold process and are subsequently filled with aninsulated material, such as foam plastic. Lids 16 and 17 are pivotallymounted on extensions 88 and 97 with pivot rods 92 and 101. As shown inFIG. 10, top unit 14 is assembled onto tank 11 by moving the top unitdown as indicated by the arrows 111 into the chamber 12 to enclose thefloat valve assembly 26 within the space 76 under top unit 14. Baffle 63extends downwardly into chamber 12 with the bottom wall 74 thereofspaced above the bottom wall 32 of the tank. The baffle side walls 64and 66 are laterally spaced from the adjacent walls of the tank so thatwater is free to circulate around the outside of baffle 63 to minimizeheat loss from the water within chamber 12. As shown in FIG. 4, tube 23functions as a water overflow pipe as well as a passage foraccommodating water inlet pipe 22. Air can flow through holes 75 inbaffle 63 and also flow through pipe 23 into and out of space 76 duringthe time that the water level in chamber 12 drops. Also, excess air inchamber 76 is free to flow through pipe 23 back into the ground belowslab 21. The air pressure in space 76 is substantially the same asambient air pressure so that the air in space 76 does not effect thelevel of water in chamber 12.

While there has been shown and described a preferred embodiment of theanimal drinker of the invention it is understood that changes in thestructure, materials, and arrangement of the structure can be made bythose skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Theinvention is defined in the following claims.

I claim:
 1. An animal drinker comprising: tank means having generallyupright wall means and .Iadd.a .Iaddend.bottom wall surrounding achamber for accommodating water, .Iadd.means for discharging water tothe chamber, .Iaddend.said wall means having .Iadd.upright side wallsand .Iaddend.end walls .[.with.]..Iadd., said end walls having.Iaddend.drinking well pockets open to the chamber and top of the endwalls, .Iadd.accommodating water, .Iaddend.top wall means mounted on theupright wall means covering said chamber, said top wall means havingdownwardly directed baffle means .Iadd.surrounding the means fordischarging water to the chamber .Iaddend.extended into the chamber andspaced inwardly from the upright .[.wall means.]. .Iadd.side walls.Iaddend.and above the bottom wall whereby water is located between thebaffle means and upright .[.wall means.]. .Iadd.side walls .Iaddend.andin .[.said.]. .Iadd.the drinking well .Iaddend.pockets, said bafflemeans having a bottom edge located below the normal level of the waterin the chamber .[.and.]. .Iadd., said baffle means including.Iaddend.boss portions extended into the drinking well pockets, .[.meanssecuring the top wall means to the upright wall means, means forsupplying water to the chamber,.]. said water flowing .Iadd.from themeans for discharging water to the chamber .Iaddend.under the bafflemeans into said drinking well pockets, .Iadd.means securing the top wallmeans to the upright wall means, .Iaddend.lid means for closing thedrinking well pockets, and means pivotally connecting the lid means tothe top wall means whereby the lid means normally close the .[. top.]..Iadd.tops .Iaddend.of .[.said.]. .Iadd.the drinking well.Iaddend.pockets and an animal can lift the lid means to provide accessto the water in the drinking well pockets.
 2. The drinker of claim 1wherein: said tank means has an inner plastic shell, an outer plasticshell, and space between said shells, and foam plastic insulation meansin said space.
 3. The drinker of claim 1 wherein: the tank means is aone-piece seamless structure having an inner plastic shell, an outerplastic shell and a space between said shells made by a rotationalmolding process, and foam plastic insulation means filling the entirespace between said shells.
 4. The drinker of claim 1 wherein: said endwalls each have first and second inside walls laterally spaced from eachother on opposite sides of each .Iadd.drinking well .Iaddend.pocket,each of said boss portions having upright surfaces located .[.in surfaceengagement with.]. .Iadd.adjacent .Iaddend.said first and second insidewalls to .Iadd.substantially .Iaddend.block the flow of air from the.Iadd.drinking well .Iaddend.pocket into the chamber.
 5. The drinker ofclaim 1 wherein: the top wall means including the baffle means and bossportions has an inner plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and spacebetween said shells and foam plastic insulation means in said space. 6.The drinker of claim 5 wherein: the inner and outer plastic shells are aseamless one piece structure made by a rotational molding process. 7.The drinker of claim 5 wherein: said end walls each have first andsecond inside walls laterally spaced from each other on opposite sidesof each .Iadd.drinking well .Iaddend.pocket, each of said boss portionshaving upright surfaces located .[.in surface engagement with.]..Iadd.adjacent .Iaddend.said first and second inside walls to.Iadd.substantially .Iaddend.block the flow of air from the.Iadd.drinking well .Iaddend.pocket into the chamber.
 8. The drinker ofclaim 1 wherein: said tank means has a first inner plastic shell, afirst outer plastic shell, and space between said shells, foam plasticinsulation means in said space, said top wall means including the bafflemeans and boss portion having second inner plastic shell, a second outerplastic shell, and space between said second shells, and foam plasticinsulation means in the space between said second shells.
 9. The drinkerof claim 8 wherein: said tank means and said top wall means are seamlessone piece structures made by a rotational molding process.
 10. Thedrinker of claim 8 wherein: said end walls each have first and secondinside walls laterally spaced from each other on opposite sides of the.Iadd.drinking well .Iaddend.pocket, each of said boss portions havingupright surfaces located .[.in surface engagement with.]. .Iadd.adjacent.Iaddend.said first and second inside walls to block the flow of airfrom the .Iadd.drinking well .Iaddend.pocket into the chamber.
 11. Ananimal drinker comprising: tank means having generally upright wallmeans and a bottom wall surrounding a chamber for accommodating water,.Iadd.means for discharging water to the chamber, .Iaddend.said wallmeans having .Iadd.upright side walls and .Iaddend.an end wall.[.with.]..Iadd., said end wall having .Iaddend.a drinking well pocketopen to the chamber and top of the end wall .Iadd.for accommodatingwater.Iaddend., top wall means mounted on the upright wall meanscovering said chamber, said top wall means having downwardly directedbaffle means .Iadd.surrounding the means for discharging water to thechamber .Iaddend.extended into the chamber and spaced inwardly from theupright .[.wall means.]. .Iadd.side walls .Iaddend.and above the bottomwall whereby water is located between the baffle means and upright.[.wall means.]. .Iadd.side walls .Iaddend.and in .[.said.]. .Iadd.thedrinking well .Iaddend.pocket, said baffle means having a bottom edgelocated below the normal level of the water in the chamber.[.and.]..Iadd., said baffle means including .Iaddend.a boss portionextended into the drinking well pocket.[., means securing the top wallmeans to the upright wall means, means for supplying water to thechamber.]. .Iadd.providing a back wall of the drinking wellpocket.Iaddend., said water flowing .Iadd.from the means for dischargingwater to the chamber .Iaddend.under the baffle means into said drinkingwell pocket, .Iadd.means securing the top wall means to the upright wallmeans, .Iaddend.lid means for closing the drinking well pocket and meansmovably connecting the lid means to the top wall means whereby the lidmeans normally closes the top of .[.said.]. .Iadd.the drinking well.Iaddend.pocket and an animal can lift the lid means to provide accessto the water in the drinking well pocket.
 12. The drinker of claim 11wherein: said tank means has an inner plastic shell, an outer plasticshell, and space between said shells, and foam plastic insulation meansin said space.
 13. The drinker of claim 11 wherein: the tank means is aone-piece seamless structure having an inner plastic shell, an outerplastic shell and a space between said shells made by a rotationalmolding process, and foam plastic insulating means filling the entirespace between said shells.
 14. The drinker of claim 11 wherein: said endwall has first and second inside walls laterally spaced from each otheron opposite sides of the .Iadd.drinking well .Iaddend.pocket, said bossportion having upright surfaces located .[.in surface engagement.]..Iadd.adjacent .Iaddend.with said first and second inside walls to.Iadd.substantially .Iaddend.block the flow of air from the.Iadd.drinking well .Iaddend.pocket into the chamber.
 15. The drinker ofclaim 11 wherein: the top wall means has an inner plastic shell, anouter inner plastic shell, and space between said shells, and foamplastic insulation means in said space, and said tank means has an innerplastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and space between said shells,and foam plastic insulation means in said space.
 16. The drinker ofclaim 15 wherein: said tank means and said top wall means are seamlessone piece structures made by a rotational molding process. .Iadd.
 17. Ananimal drinker comprising: tank means having generally upright wallmeans and a bottom wall surrounding a chamber for accommodating water,means for discharging water to the chamber, said wall means havingupright side walls and end walls, said end walls having drinking wellpockets open to the chamber and top of the end walls for accommodatingwater, top wall means mounted on the upright wall means covering saidchamber, said top wall means having downwardly directed baffle meanssurrounding the means for discharging water to the chamber extended intothe chamber and spaced inwardly from the upright side wall means andabove the bottom wall whereby water is located between the baffle meansand upright side wall means in the drinking well pockets, said bafflemeans having a bottom edge located below the normal level of the waterin the chamber, said baffle means including portions extended across theback of the drinking well pockets providing back walls of the drinkingwall pockets, said water flowing from the means for discharging water tothe chamber under the baffle means into the drinking well pockets, meanssecuring the top wall means to the upright wall means, lid means forclosing the drinking well pockets, and means pivotally connecting thelid means to the top wall means whereby the lid means normally close thetop of the drinking well pockets and an animal can lift the lid means toprovide access to the water in the drinking well pockets. .Iaddend..Iadd.
 18. The drinker of claim 17 wherein: the tank means is aone-piece seamless structure having an inner plastic shell, an outerplastic shell, and a space between said shells made by a rotationalmolding process, and foam plastic insulation means filling the entirespace between said shells. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The drinker of claim 17wherein: the top wall means including the baffle means has an innerplastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and space between said shells,and foam plastic insulation means in said space. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. Thedrinker of claim 19 wherein: the inner and outer plastic shells are aseamless one-piece structure made by a rotational molding process..Iaddend. .Iadd.21. An animal drinker comprising: tank means havinggenerally upright wall means and a bottom wall surrounding a chamber foraccommodating water, means for discharging water to the chamber, saidwall means having upright side walls and an end wall, said end wallhaving a drinking well pocket open to the chamber and top of the endwall for accommodating water, top wall means mounted on the upright wallmeans covering said chamber, said top wall means having downwardlydirected baffle means surrounding the means for discharging water to thechamber extended into the chamber and spaced inwardly from the uprightside walls and above the bottom wall whereby water is located betweenthe baffle means and upright side walls and in the drinking well pocket,said baffle means having a bottom edge located below the normal level ofthe water in the chamber, said baffle means including a portionextending across the back of the drinking well pocket providing a backwall of the drinking well pocket, said water flowing from the means fordischarging water to the chamber under the baffle means into thedrinking well pocket, means securing the top wall means to the uprightwall means, lid means for closing the drinking well pocket, and meansmovably connecting the lid means to the top wall means whereby the lidmeans normally closes the top of the drinking well pocket and an animalcan lift the lid means to provide access to the water in the drinkingwell pocket. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The drinker of claim 21 wherein: thetank means is a one-piece seamless structure having an inner plasticshell, an outer plastic shell, and a space between said shells made by arotational molding process, and foam plastic insulation means fillingthe entire space between said shells. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The drinker ofclaim 21 wherein: the top wall means has an inner plastic shell, anouter plastic shell, and space between said shells, and foam plasticinsulation means in said space, and said tank means has an inner plasticshell, an outer plastic shell, and space between said shells, and foamplastic insulation means in said space. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The drinkerof claim 23 wherein: said tank means and said top wall means areseamless one-piece structures made by a rotational molding process..Iaddend. .Iadd.25. An animal drinker comprising: tank means havinggenerally upright wall means and a bottom wall surrounding a chamber foraccommodating water, means for discharging water to the chamber, saidwall means having upright side walls and end walls, said end wallshaving drinking well pockets open to the chamber and the top of the endwalls for accommodating water, top wall means mounted on the uprightwall means covering said chamber, said top wall means having downwardlydirected baffle means surrounding the means for discharging water to thechamber extended into the chamber and spaced inwardly from the uprightside walls and above the bottom wall whereby water is located betweenthe baffle means and the upright side walls and in the drinking wellpockets, said baffle means having a bottom edge located below the normallevel of the water in the chamber, said baffle means including portionsextended across the back of the drinking well pockets providing backwalls of the drinking well pockets, said water flowing from the meansfor discharging water to the chamber under the baffle means into thedrinking well pockets, means securing the top wall means to the uprightwall means, and means normally closing the upper portions of thedrinking well pockets adapted to be movable by an animal to provideaccess to the water in the drinking well pockets. .Iaddend. .Iadd.26.The drinker of claim 25 wherein: the tank means is a one-piece seamlessstructure having an inner plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and aspace between the shells made by a rotational molding process, and foamplastic insulation means filling the entire space between said shells..Iaddend. .Iadd.27. The drinker of claim 25 wherein: the top wall meansincluding the baffle means has an inner plastic shell, an outer plasticshell, and spaced between said shells, and foam plastic insulation meansin said space. .Iaddend. .Iadd.28. The drinker of claim 27 wherein: theinner and outer plastic shells of the top wall means are a seamlessone-piece structure made by a rotational molding process. .Iaddend..Iadd.29. An animal drinker comprising: tank means having generallyupright wall means and a bottom wall surrounding a chamber foraccommodating water, means for discharging water to the chamber, saidwall means having upright side walls and an end wall, said end wallhaving a drinking well pocket open to the chamber and top of the endwall for accommodating water, top wall means mounted on the upright wallmeans covering said chamber, said top wall means having downwardlydirected baffle means surrounding the means for supplying water to thechamber extended into the chamber and spaced inwardly from the uprightside walls and above the bottom wall whereby water is located betweenthe baffle means and upright side walls and in the drinking well pocket,said baffle means having a bottom edge located below the normal level ofthe water in the chamber, said baffle means including a portion extendedacross the back of the drinking well pocket providing a back wall forthe drinking well pocket, said water flowing from the means fordischarging water to the chamber under the baffle means into thedrinking well pocket, means securing the top wall means to the uprightwall means, and means normally closing an upper portion of the drinkingwell pocket adapted to be movable by an animal to provide access to thewater in the drinking well pocket. .Iaddend. .Iadd.30. The drinker ofclaim 29 wherein: the tank means is a one-piece seamless structurehaving an inner plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and a spacebetween said shells made by a rotational molding process, and foamplastic insulation means filling the entire space between said shell..Iaddend. .Iadd.31. The drinker of claim 29 wherein: the top wall meanshas an inner plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and spaced betweensaid shells, and foam plastic insulation means in said space, and saidtank means has an inner plastic shell, an outer plastic shell, and spacebetween said shells and foam plastic insulation means in said space..Iaddend. .Iadd.32. The drinker of claim 31 wherein: said tank means andtop wall means are seamless one-piece structures made by a rotationalmolding process. .Iaddend.